Clavulariidae, Hickson, 1894

Devictor, Susan T. & Morton, Steve L., 2010, Identification guide to the shallow water (0 - 200 m) octocorals of the South Atlantic Bight 2599, Zootaxa 2599 (1), pp. 1-62 : 17-18

Family Clavulariidae

Octocorals with cylindrical polyps connected by reticulating stolons. Branching species have a primary polyp from which secondary polyps arise, and encrusting species develop thin ribbon-or sheet-like stolons between polyps.

There are five species belonging to three genera of clavulariid octocorals in the SAB. The species of Telesto represented in this region are often distinguished by the presence and orientation of the flat anthocodial rods in the polyp tentacles. These rods may be difficult to see, especially if the polyps are retracted into the calyces. Variability in these features can be seen not only between colonies, but also between individual polyps. Preservation may affect the polyp shape and make it difficult to distinguish the orientation of the tentacular rods. Relaxing the polyps prior to preservation (see Methods) or chemically clearing the tissue may make identification easier. Refer to Fabricus and Alderslade (2001) for phenol-xylene clearing methodology.

Both forms of Scleranthelia rugosa have an encrusting growth form that makes them difficult to recognize in situ.